What would you do if you think your child might be a bully or is bullying

[Iceberg Slim]

Just curious to hear what others think

[sharkkiller]

First try to sit them down and talk to them. Depends on how old they are. If they are high school, then they should know better, and some type of punishment is needed. If they are elementary school, then they need to understand the impacts they are having on the kids they are bullying. It depends on the child and their maturity level as to how to approach that.

[cookinwithgas]

First look at yourself and your actions; I think the #1 reason kids become bullies is because they get treated poorly at home. Get professional advice on that one.

Other than that, reinforce positive behavior - my stepson is a big kid who could easily force his will on other kids, but he's been constantly reminded to be a helper to smaller kids and he really does have a heart of gold.

Some kids though, just have the need to do this and there's not a lot to be done - some of it is upbringing and some of it is chemistry, you can only have an effect on one.

[GritsRgreat]

Smack them around to show them how it feels....Or smack them around to toughen them up. Either way, smacking them around is the key.

[thefuzz]

How does the parent treat the kid? How does the parent treat others in front of the kid? How does the mother treat the father/father treat the mother?

If all of the above is normal or good, it's time to have a serious sit down with the kid.

[Hugor Hill]

First look at yourself and your actions; I think the #1 reason kids become bullies is because they get treated poorly at home. Get professional advice on that one.

This.....most children take on the personalities and actions of their parents whether they think they do or not.

[mav1234]

Some of it can also be inaction, because sometimes lack of positive reinforcement towards more desired behaviors can lead to this too, without necessarily a negative example set in the home (such examples can come from friends, TV, etc).

Physical punishment in the form of spanking the kid without properly explaining why won't accomplish anything either... might even make it worse. Not saying there isn't a place for that, but yeah.

In general I would talk to the child while also trying to understand if something in their home life could be causing that kind of behavior. If you have solid reason to believe s/he is bullying don't just leave it at talking to him/her once either. Get involved in your kid's life, and try to see who s/he is hanging around with etc.

[Jackofalltrades]

I'd talk to him, tell him what I thought of those types of actions and then we'd go down to the Cabarrus County Jail and let him meet some guys that thought that kind of behavior was ok too at one time.

I absolutely will not stand for it. My kid better be the one who stands up to the bully's in defense of others.

[nickzz]

high-five him.